So, I have been here in the USA a week. It has been a time of ups and downs, surprises, shocks, and thrills. There is too much to try to explain it all here.

I am, overall, extremely happy. Mark is more incredible in person than I could have hoped. He is kind, gentle, and sweet to me. Yes, there are times he still takes me to task, but never in a mean way, and certainly much less than used to occur on the phone. I was right about that much. In person, I am able to read his moods much more easily.

We get along so well, it is amazing. We do not fight, even when we do not agree. Our communication is a wonderful thing. It sustained us through the past months and is even better now. We still talk about all sorts of things, some silly, some serious. I want to take this time and freeze-frame it. I want the summer to never end. I am greedy in this regard.

We have these little things we do together, small rituals we seem to already be building into our relationship. Hugs, touches, smiles, greetings after work, cooking, and so on. They are so normal they almopst break my heart. I wonder at times if he knows how special, how rare they are. Then I ask and he assures me he knows. It is how we are.

I love him. He loves me. Now, to the tricky part. The future. We shall see.

~QS